Travel News

BY  Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Nigeria Immigration Service on Monday prevented a promoter of the #EndSARS movement, Modupe Odele, from travelling.

Although the officers did not disclose the reason for their action, it is believed that the action was taken because of her alleged role in the #EndSARS protests.

Odele, had through her Twitter handle, @Mochievous, mobilised her 219,000 followers during the protests.

She had also offered free legal aid to persons who were unjustly arrested during the demonstrations.

Confirming the development in a newsletter sent out on Monday, the lawyer said she was on her way to the Maldives to celebrate her birthday when she was accosted by immigration officers.

She wrote, “For my birthday, I had planned a trip to the Maldives. It was really for a break as the events of the last three weeks have exhausted my mind and body in a way I have never been exhausted in my life.

“I went to the airport, passed through immigration, and while I was putting my bags through the body and baggage scanner, the immigration officer who had previously cleared me, called me back. He told me he had orders from above to detain me.

“Okay, at this point I’m like excuse me, my flight is in an hour. On what grounds are you detaining me?” He didn’t respond. Instead, he goes to his computer where he typed in my name and something that looked like a ‘wanted poster’ popped up on the portal.

“He blocked my view so I couldn’t see most of it but I saw some of it. And it read something like – ‘This person is under investigation by XYZ Intelligence Agency. If seen, they should be apprehended on sight.'”

Odele said she was detained while her passport was seized by the officers and she was made to miss her flight.

The lawyer said that she had been able to identify the security agency that put her on the watch list, adding that she would be returning there on Tuesday.

Odele wrote, “Since the #EndSARS peaceful protests started in Nigeria about three weeks ago, I and some super courageous women have been providing support to Nigerians as they came out to peacefully exercise their constitutional rights.

“I was specifically in charge of legal aid and so co-led www.endsarslegalaid.co where we succeeded in helping over 80 peaceful protesters who were arrested get released. It was back-breaking and emotionally tasking work but the joy that the family expressed when being reunited with loved ones made it all worth it.

“I’m not a full-time activist or human rights attorney. I am a corporate lawyer at the moment so dealing with police stations isn’t my area of expertise. I did what needed to be done in the face of gross injustice and had the support of over 800 wonderful volunteer lawyers.”

Odele stated that she had begun providing pro bono lawyers to victims of police brutality who wish to file petitions before the Judicial Panels set up by states across the country to investigate alleged incidences of police brutality.

When contacted, NIS Spokesman, Sunday James, said he couldn’t confirm the development yet and asked for more time.

However, #FreeMoeSexy had begun trending on Twitter by Tuesday morning with thousands calling on the authorities to stop harassing Odele.

The Government of Nigeria has decided to ban passports for travelers who refuse to make themselves available for a compulsory PCR test, seven days after arriving in the country from using their international passports for a minimum of six months.

The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, issued this threat yesterday when the task force briefed the media.

Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said the need to activate the sanctions, including passport suspension for erring individuals, was necessitated by serious non-compliance by defaulters, which had assumed a 65 percent level.

He also regretted that statistics from record indicated that only one out of three passengers, who arrived from abroad, were presenting themselves for the mandatory in-country test, which they signed up to and paid before arrival.

He warned that the country is at risk of a second wave of COVID-19 and its importation from abroad having opened its airspace for international travels.

In addition to this, he lamented about non- adherence to pharmaceutical interventions as a result of the massive anti-SARS protests in some parts of the country, warning that the next two weeks will remain critical.

"The PTF at the last briefing cautioned on the need to avoid complacency on account of the low number of infections published daily and the possibility of a second wave. That advice was premised on the fact that risk perception remains very low and sample collection has been on the decline. In the midst of all these, the nation has experienced several large gathering events during which the Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions were not really observed. The situation in Europe and the reports from the USA showing the consequences of non-adherence are quite vivid."

• Expats are at airports escaping Britain before the new coronavirus lockdown comes in tomorrow 
• Travel experts say elderly tourists and people who can work from home are also looking to get out 
• Bookings boomed after the Government announced holidays would be banned until December 2
• ** Are you fleeing Britain before the lockdown comes in? Please send your pictures to: [email protected] ** 

By MARK DUELL FOR MAILONLINE and FIONA PARKER and TOM PAYNE FOR THE DAILY MAIL

London Heathrow Airport was busy today with travellers rushing to leave Britain on last-minute flights before the new national lockdown comes in place tomorrow.

Photographs showed queues at Terminal Five as early as 6am as expats escape the UK, with travel experts saying elderly tourists and people who can work from home are also looking to get out before the new restrictions.

Terminal Two was also very busy today while an easyJet flight from Bristol to Fuertuventua was packed as people escaped for some sun before the new rules come into place at midnight tonight.

Bookings have boomed after the Government announced holidays in England and abroad would be banned from November 5 until December 2. Foreign nationals entering the UK are allowed provided they follow lockdown rules. 

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Mass crowds queue to get into at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two today as passengers fly before lockdown

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People queue for check-in at London Heathrow Airport today expats and tourists fly before lockdown comes in at midnight

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Huge queues at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two today before the lockdown comes in at midnight

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Queues to get into London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two today as passengers wait to leave Britain before the lockdown

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Queues for flights at London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five this morning as travellers prepare to leave Britain

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Passengers sit in waiting areas at London Heathrow Airport early this morning as they prepare to leave the country

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Passengers at Heathrow Airport are having to follow social distancing rules with markers laid out on seating areas

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Bristol Airport was also busy at 6am this morning as holidaymakers tried to get out of the country to beat the new resitrctions

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An easyJet flight from Bristol to Fuertuventua - one of the Canary Islands - was packed as people tried to escape to the sun

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The passengers on the easyJet flight from Bristol to Fuertuventua are leaving the country ahead of the new lockdown

It comes as holidaymakers face another month of chaos under new lockdown laws that will ban most travel from tomorrow, less than a week after restrictions were lifted on several holiday destinations, including the Maldives.

Bookings to the islands soared by 469 per cent after the Government said Britons would no longer have to self-isolate after returning, but hopes of winter sun have now been dashed until after the new lockdown ends.

The Government has not released full details on what trips will be allowed from tomorrow, although travel for work and education should be. If a plane takes off passengers will not be automatically entitled to a cash refund.

On Monday, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary, confirmed that if a passenger's flight was operating they would not be eligible for a refund — but they could move their booking to another date for free. 

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Passengers boarding a flight at London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five today as they leave the United Kingdom

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People make a mad dash to the airport to leave the UK, leading Heathrow Terminal 5 (pictured) to look very busy

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Today is the last day of travel before restrictions all come into force, with passengers at Heathrow Terminal Five today

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Passengers board a British Airways flight at Heathrow Airport Terminal Five as they leave London today

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Passengers sitting on social distancing benches at London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five early this morning

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Passengers stand with their luggage in queues as they wait to check in for flights at London Heathrow Airport this morning

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Long queues as people checked into flights at Heathrow Terminal 5 today before the travel restrictions come into force

British Airways says passengers can change their flights for another date in the next 12 months without incurring a booking fee, or take a voucher valid until April 30, 2022. 

Virgin Atlantic customers due to fly before September 2021 can book a new departure date up to December 31, 2022, fee-free. TUI says all customers flying from England and Wales over lockdown will get an automatic refund.

Those flying from Scotland can amend their bookings for free up to 21 days before departure. However, those who do reschedule a trip with an airline face having to pay more if their new booking is more expensive.

Meanwhile, Heathrow has launched a legal challenge against the decision to end duty-free bargains on perfume, clothing and electronics - arguing the move will cost the country billions. 

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Social distancing measures appeared difficult to keep up as Heathrow Terminal 5 saw long lines of queueing travellers

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The queues snaked around Terminal 5 as people waited to check in for their flights to get out of the UK before lockdown

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Air passengers queue up with their luggage at London Heathrow Airport Terminal Five this morning

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Travellers at London Heathrow today are preparing to leave the United Kingdom before the new Covid lockdown begins

Heathrow boss on latest figures showing £1.5bn loss so far in 2020

They add that it will intensify the crisis facing the battered aviation and retail industries. The Treasury has said that, as of January 1, tax savings on goods bought by outbound holidaymakers and business travellers will apply only to alcohol and tobacco.

Ministers are also abolishing the VAT rebate scheme for tourists as part of the move. The planned changes will leave the UK as the only country in the developed world to not offer tax-free shopping to travellers.

The bosses of WHSmith, Boots, Fortnum & Mason and Dixons are among business chiefs opposing the plans, warning it will trigger a £10billion reduction in spending in shops. 

And the abolition of the VAT rebate scheme is expected to cost the Exchequer £2billion in lost tax revenue. Heathrow has now launched a Judicial Review of the Chancellor’s decision – the first time it has embarked on a legal challenge against the Government. 

** Are you fleeing Britain before the lockdown comes in? Please send your pictures to: [email protected] ** 

What to do if your holiday plans are in ruins... again: Are you due a refund? Should you take a voucher? And dare you risk re-booking? 

Can I get a cash refund?

If your flight or package holiday is cancelled, you are legally entitled to a full cash refund.

If you have booked a package holiday, you should receive this within 14 days. For flights it is seven days. But with firms being inundated with refund requests, you may have to wait longer.

Getting a refund for a non-package hotel booking can be trickier but you should argue that you deserve your money back if the company cannot provide the service.

Will my trip still go ahead?

The Government has not released full details on what trips will be allowed, although travel for work and education should be.

Not all flights will be cancelled, and if your plane takes off - even if you are not on it because of lockdown - you will not be automatically entitled to a cash refund.

On Monday, Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary, confirmed that if a passenger's flight was operating they would not be eligible for a refund — but they could move their booking to another date for free.

British Airways says passengers can change their flights for another date in the next 12 months without incurring a booking fee, or take a voucher valid until April 30, 2022.

Virgin Atlantic customers due to fly before September 2021 can book a new departure date up to December 31, 2022, fee-free.

TUI says all customers flying from England and Wales over lockdown will get an automatic refund because the flights are now cancelled.

Those flying from Scotland can amend their bookings for free up to 21 days before departure.

However, if you do reschedule a trip with an airline, you may have to pay more if your new booking is more expensive.

Should I come home early?

If you are already on holiday, there is no law which requires you to rush home. But you should contact your travel operator or airline because you may need to take an earlier flight if they are running fewer services.

In August, Jet2 cut hundreds of holidays to the Balearic and Canary Islands short and refunded customers for unused nights.

However, if your travel firm insists that you travel back earlier and refuses to refund the difference, you could make a civil legal claim for 'frustration of contract'.

Could I cancel my holiday?

Wait for your airline or tour operator to cancel your flight, even if you know you won't be able to travel.

However, if you don't hear anything and your holiday is a few days away, contact the airline.

If you cancel your trip yourself, you will lose the right to an automatic cash refund and your insurer may not pay out.

What about staycations?

The Competition & Markets Authority says that if a contract cannot be fulfilled because of lockdown laws, it would expect the customer to receive a full refund in most cases. This could apply to staycations in hotels.

However, this does not mean you will be automatically entitled to a refund — and some hotels may instead offer vouchers or the chance to reschedule.

And what if the firm goes bust?

Airline regulator the Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that any refund credit notes (RCNs) for cancelled holidays up until December 31 will be protected under its Air Travel Organiser's Licence scheme (ATOL).

This means you will get your money back, even if the travel company or airline goes bust. You will only be able to get an RCN if your holiday or flight was ATOL-protected.

Travel Association ABTA offers similar protection for RCNs for package holidays that do not include flights.

Will insurers pay out?

Many insurers have made changes to their policies that mean they will not pay claims for trips which cannot go ahead owing to lockdown, so check the small print.

Allianz Assistance will not pay out if holidays are cancelled because of restrictions imposed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Aviva will pay out if they there were no UK or local restriction guidelines that would have prevented your holiday at the time of booking or when you bought the policy — whichever is later.

And Nationwide will pay out as long as there were no restrictions on travelling to your destination when you booked.

By Sanni Onogu, Abuja

Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Airlines Operators of Nigeria (AON) have disagreed over who or what is responsible for alleged hostile operating environments in the aviation sector.

While the operators put the blame on the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies, Sirika asked them to look inwards.

The Minister warned the airline operators to stop pointing fingers if they desire to overcome their challenges.

The exchange between the Minister and the AON took place at the three -day public hearing on the six aviation Executive Bills organized by the Senate Committee on Aviation chaired by Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West).

Sirika had reacted to claims of unfavourable business environment raised by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Overland Airways, Captain Edward Boyo.

Captain Boyo accused the Aviation regulatory agencies, especially the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) of imposing exorbitant service charges on the airlines.

He noted undue taxation by NCAA in connivance with the Ministry of Aviation was responsible for high airfares while the agency was indifferent to standard and efficiency.

He warned that the local airlines were victims of obsolete legislation.

He called on the National Assembly to protect the aviation industry through relevant legislations to prevent local airlines operators from going out of business.

Boyo said: “The AON are victims of hostile environment, because of legislation that are obsolete and therefore useless.

“The Senate should ask, why are airlines dying in Nigeria? It is good that we are amending the laws with the hope that it will help the common man.

“The local operators are being demonised as not remitting charges. What we should ask is, what is the efficiency of these agencies taking the charges, translating to high cost for travellers?

“The airlines are dying and very soon there will be no airlines left. The operating environment is hostile.”

Chairman Bi-Courtney Group of Companies, Wale Babalakin, (SAN) urged the Senate Committee on Aviation to liaise with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters before concluding the amendment.

Babalakin insisted that certain provisions of the Bills have directly infringed on the Constitution.

He further accused the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of conflict of interest.

Babalakin said: “Some of the provisions are an embarrassment to the Nigerian Constitution.

“You need to take the amendment to the Committee on the Judiciary and the AGF.

“FAAN can’t play a role in regulating terminals, the FAAN can’t bully the operators with regulations.

“The regulator can’t continue to be a competitor, it is conflict of interest.

“We are being oppressed and it can’t continue. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

The Aviation Minister however attributed the decline in the fortunes of the indigenous airlines to poor capital outlay, business plans and governance structure.

Sirika said:” The airports must be run for profit, not charity.

“To explain why the airlines are failing are business plans and failure of their CEOs, you don’t blame their inefficiency on us.

“They should look at their business plans. For those that have gone into extinction, check the ownership structure and business plans.

“It is not debatable. They should be critical with business plans, governance structures and capital outlay.

“Ask them about the maintenance plans for their aircrafts. Most of them miss it from business plan and governance structure, I don’t want to mention their names.”

BY  Kelvin Osa Okunbor

NIGERIAN Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has concluded plans to embark on recovery of over N22 billion owed  aviation agencies by indigenous carriers  in the last 20 years.

The move by the regulatory body would lead to disruption in air services at airports nationwide.

NCAA’s  Director-General, Capt. Musa Nuhu, who made this known in Abuja at a stakeholders and general public hearing on the repeal and enactment of civil aviation bills of  aviation agencies, said this option was the only way to compel the airlines to pay their debts.

He decried the attitude of many of the airlines that failed to remit what they collected as five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) and Passenger Service Charge (PSC) collected on behalf of the agencies.

The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika had on Monday put the debts of Nigerian airlines over the last 10 years to aviation agencies at $6.9 million and N19.6 billion (N22.2 billion).

Nuhu said: “We are going to start taking action and implement actions to recover most of the money. We have started action last week on airlines that owe us. The irony is that these are taxes the airlines collected from the passengers. These are not their money. They collected but refused to remit.

“We have also heard that the government has refused to assist the carriers. We all remember that in 2011, the airlines received close to N200billion. They are yet to pay back. If foreign airlines are not paying, why are our own airlines not paying?

Earlier, Sirika elaborated on some of the charges the carriers described as ‘too many’ and not in the interest of the carriers, saying these charges had been in existence for so long and enshrined in the country’s constitution

Surprisingly, the air force is losing

Bird-watchers in northern Israel are spoiled for choice. Griffon vultures, imperial eagles and long-legged buzzards swoop over the Golan Heights. Cranes, cormorants and kingfishers congregate in the wetlands around the Sea of Galilee. And flying over them all are the biggest birds in the sky, Israel’s f-16 fighter jets, which climb steeply from the runways of Ramat David airbase—in order to avoid sucking any feathered friends into their engines. But the skies in the north may soon look different, if the air force gets its way.

Israel needs a new airport. About 90% of all travel to and from the country moves through Ben-Gurion International Airport, just outside Tel Aviv. It serves the entire population of 9.2m and most of the millions of tourists who visit each year. Before covid-19 the airport was close to full capacity. Nearly everyone agrees that another is essential. They just can’t agree on where to build it. And the fight is making for strange bedfellows.

With land in central Israel scarce, the choice has come down to two air-force bases: Ramat David in the north or the much larger Nevatim in the south. The air force would rather part with Ramat David, which hosts only two f-16 squadrons. Nevatim, by comparison, hosts six squadrons, which include heavy-cargo and tanker-reconnaissance aircraft, as well as f-35 stealth fighters. The location of Nevatim, in the middle of the Negev desert, gives the air force almost exclusive access to airspace over more than half of Israel’s territory. It likes that.

But that site also makes it a good choice for the new airport. Ramat David is surrounded by marshlands, making building expensive. Nevatim, by contrast, already has runways long enough for big passenger and cargo planes. Moreover, it is surrounded by sand, leaving abundant space for terminals and future expansion.

Local officials in the south, most from the conservative Likud party, are clamouring for the project, which they hope will bring jobs and infrastructure. Miri Regev, the transport minister, also from Likud, stymied plans favoured by the fighter-jockeys and is working on new ones that put the airport in the south. In her previous post, as culture minister, Ms Regev was the bane of liberals. But now she has their support. Northern farmers and nature-lovers, many of whom are scions of the old Labour movement, don’t want to see their fields and wildlife sanctuaries paved over.

Israel’s air warriors are not used to such opposition. “They want the Negev to remain their playground, and will try and wait this transport minister out,” says an officer in the army (which sometimes resents the better-equipped air force). Ms Regev, for her part, is talking to the Ministry of Defence before bringing the issue to the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu (also of Likud). But she has made a point of saying that it is a “civilian airport”—the implication being that civilians will decide where it goes.

A Nigerian citizen who was refused indefinite leave to remain has successfully challenged the decision of the Home Secretary that there were no exceptional circumstances justifying the exercise of discretion in her favour.

Ruth Awa was temporarily unlawfully present in the UK during a period between March 2016 and August 2017. She argued that the Secretary of State for the Home Department had failed to take into account the circumstances of the interruption to her lawful residence period, which resulted from a letter not being received by her solicitors.

The case was heard in the Outer House of the Court of Session by Lord Glennie.

Letter never received

The petitioner first entered the UK on a student visa in September 2006. She was granted further leave to remain after the expiry of her original visa under the Fresh Talent – Working in Scotland Scheme, and then again by a new Tier 4 visa valid until the end of January 2014.

On 16 March 2016 the petitioner, who had by this time married and had a son born in the UK, applied for further limited leave to remain on the basis of her family and private life established in the UK. The Home Office acknowledged receipt of the application but sent a letter in May 2016 asking for further evidence from the petitioner due to some mandatory sections not being completed.

Solicitors for the petitioner denied having ever received the letter. It was not in dispute that had the March 2016 application been granted the petitioner would not have been regarded as an overstayer during the relevant period.

On 5 July 2016, the Home Office wrote to the petitioner again to inform her that her application had been rejected as invalid. This letter referenced a “March 2016” letter previously sent by the Home Office, which was likely an erroneous reference to the May letter but caused the petitioner’s solicitors to focus on sending a new application.

Following a fresh application, the Home Office granted the petitioner further leave to remain dating from 25 August 2017 only. The effect of not backdating the grant of leave resulted in the period of unlawful residence given as the reason for not granting ILR.

It was submitted for the petitioner that, while the respondent was entitled to form the view that she had not shown a period of 10 years’ lawful residence in the UK, she had failed to take into account the fact that there was no difficulty with the petitioner’s March 2016 application on its merits. What went wrong was that the Home Office letter of May 2016 had not been received by her solicitors, and in the ordinary course of events the application would have been granted.

Unfortunate mishap 

In his opinion, Lord Glennie accepted that the original Home Office letter suggested the March 2016 application would likely have been granted, saying: “Whether or not the Home Office has a practice of sending out a letter pointing out basic mistakes in the application, it is plain that they would not do so in a case where they considered that the application was likely to be refused once the missing material was provided and the defects in the application made good. There would be no point.”

Noting that the issue was “relatively straightforward” despite the complex factual background, he explained: ”The interruption to the petitioner’s 10 years continuous lawful residence in the UK resulted from an unfortunate mishap. Those circumstances were known to the Secretary of State, at latest when the point was made to her after her initial rejection of the petitioner’s application by letter of 15 January 2020. She had the opportunity at that stage to reconsider her decision. Instead of that she took a stand on the issue of the letter being ‘deemed’ served on the petitioner.”

He continued: “Her focus was, as explained in the written submissions lodged on her behalf, on justifying her own actions. That was not the right approach. What she ought to have been looking at was how the situation had arisen in which, by mischance, and through no fault of either party, steps were not taken back in May 2016 which would then have resulted in the petitioner being granted a further period of limited leave to remain.”

Addressing submissions for the respondent, he said: “While I understand why the respondent raised the issue of mora, taciturnity and acquiescence, it seems to me that that plea misunderstands the crux of the petitioner’s argument. Her argument proceeds on the basis that the decision which the Secretary of State had to take in January 2020 had to be taken against the background of what had happened in 2016 and 2017. There is no suggestion by the petitioner in this case that those decisions in 2016 and 2017 were wrong, either as a matter of law or as a matter of discretion.”

For these reasons, the petition was granted and the decision of the respondent to refuse the petitioner’s ILR application was reduced.

Young Ghanaians who travelled to Nigeria to work as farm hands show the most precious possession they took with them.

By Femi Amogunla

The young Ghanaian men and boys who come to this farm in Osun state, Nigeria, each year to find work mostly say they do it in order to improve their lives once they return home.

They have been brought in to the country in groups by a “master” – usually an older Ghanaian who has lived for several years in Nigeria. At the end of nearly a year of hard work hoeing ridges, weeding and planting in often difficult conditions, they will return to their homes with a motorbike as the prize for their labour.

Some motorbikes will be sold to help support families, others will be put to use – often as motorbike taxis to provide an income. Aside from this, farm workers do not earn any money – they are only provided with food and basic accommodation.

During these months away from home, many find some comfort in the personal possessions they brought with them. Through these precious items – an old wristwatch, a bag, clothes, a chain and pendant – they carry a part of their country, their memories of home and family, and their dreams for the future.

Lewin: The thing around your neck

Lewin takes his necklaces off when he works as he is worried about damaging them [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

Every morning before Lewin, 15, heads out to work on the farm, he carefully removes and stores two interwoven necklaces inside his travelling bag.

“The work is always too much. I don’t want to make the thing spoil quick,” he says. He is worried the necklaces will be damaged if he works while wearing them. Once he takes his bath after returning from the farm, he puts them back on.

The words – “The Methodist Church, Ghana” – are imprinted on the pendant of one of the necklaces.

“That is my church in Ghana,” he says. “This was my grandmother’s gift to me while growing up.”

Lewin says he remembers his late grandmother whenever he looks at it.

Yellow: Time traveller

Yellow says his watch reminds him of a time when he could afford to buy it [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

Yellow, 19, is always admiring his wristwatch even though he barely wears it. He frequently takes it out of his bag and stares at it. It is not the look of someone checking the time, but rather checking that it is still working. The wristwatch was a gift he bought for himself while in Ghana, a product of his hard-earned labour from the year before.

“Every time I get tired of being here, I look at it. It reminds me to continue to work hard. One day – one day – it will be better,” he reflects.

Yellow says that looking at the evidence of a time when he could afford the watch is a reminder of the possibility that he will one day have enough money to buy more things.

Richard: A bag of stories

Richard’s bag reminds him of his friends back in Ghana [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

This is 17-year-old Richard’s first time working in Nigeria. He is planning to sell the motorbike he will earn from the farm to pay for his education.

Bought a year before he came to Nigeria, his bag not only reminds him of his friends – who had bags in similar designs – but is also a sign of maturity and status.

“It is when you have ‘level’ that you carry this kind of bag,” Richard says smiling. He recalls days in Ghana when he would go out with friends, their backpacks strapped to their backs, even when empty. For them, these bags are a sign of belonging to a different “level”, of having “arrived”, he explains. Boys who did not have such a bag “quickly went to get theirs,” Richard laughs.

Peter: A jersey of two colours

Peter would wear this jersey when playing football with his neighbourhood team back in Ghana [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

Peter’s story of his shirt is a story of love, passion and team spirit. Just 15 years old, he says his love of football drove him to form a neighbourhood football team with his friends at home in Ghana.

They needed a uniform jersey, so they went to a market, going from stall to stall. After several hours, this striped lemon-green-and-black jersey was the closest they could find to what they were looking for – the closest to the kind of jerseys that they saw on football players on television. Whenever his friends arrived at his house wearing the jersey, it was football time.

“I just couldn’t leave it back at home,” says Peter. “It keeps me closer to my friends by just looking at it.” Whenever he wears it in Nigeria – which is only on special occasions such as the occasional day off – he remembers his friends and looks forward to seeing them again.

Koffi: Shoes laced with hopes

Koffi says his shoes are a reminder than someone cares for him [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

“I was gifted these by someone in my neighbourhood,” Koffi, who is just 13, reminisces. Much more than being just a gift, the shoes are special because, he says, “someone in the neighbourhood met my need”. They are a reminder that he is cared for.

“Each time I put them on, it fills me with a lot of hope that no matter how terrible a situation is, there would always be someone somewhere who truly cares.”

This is the first time that Koffi has come to Nigeria to work. He says he was excited about coming because he had never left Ghana before.

Stone: The cloth that binds

Stone and his siblings made his shirt from fabric their parents managed to buy for them [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

As the second of three children, Stone’s story of this particular shirt is one of pride. While their parents struggle to provide for them back home, Stone, 15, and his siblings are always excited when their parents are able to buy them clothes during the festive period at Christmas and New Year. That is the only time of year they receive new clothes. Last year, the siblings sewed new clothes from four yards of material that their parents managed to buy for them – including this shirt.

This is Stone’s first time away from his family, working in Nigeria, and he says that he misses them.

“This particularly means a lot to me because it is like a bond I share with my siblings and, more importantly, a reflection of my parents’ sacrifice.”

Addo: Last note

Addo hopes to start a motorbike taxi business when he returns to Ghana [Femi Amogunla/Al Jazeera]

The night before embarking on his journey to Nigeria, Addo, 21, had initially planned to buy cigarettes with the money he had with him, but instead decided to keep the note.

He hopes to return home at the end of the year with both a motorbike, with which he hopes to start a motorbike taxi business in Ghana, and this banknote.

“I came to Nigeria with this money and I hope to go back with it. It will be good to start again from where I stopped. Whatever amount I earn upon return, it will be plus this amount I have kept.”

By Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Chinese government has announced the temporary suspension of entry into China of non-Chinese nationals in Nigeria holding visas or residence permits.

The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria in a statement issued Wednesday, however, said that holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas would not be affected.

It however added that foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

It stated: “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, China has decided to temporarily suspend entry into China by non-Chinese nationals in Nigeria holding visas or residence permits still valid at the time of this announcement. The Chinese Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria will no longer issue Certified Health Declaration Form for the above-mentioned personnel.

“Entry by holders of diplomatic, service, courtesy or C visas will not be affected. Foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at Chinese Embassy or Consulate. Entry by non-Chinese nationals in Nigeria with visas issued after 3 November 2020 will not be affected.

“The suspension is a temporary response necessitated by the current situation of Covid-19. The above-mentioned measures will be assessed in accordance with the evolving situation and any adjustment will be announced accordingly.”

The news comes just hours after Germany and Sweden were removed from the list of travel corridors.

Denmark has been removed from the government's list of travel corridors due to widespread outbreaks of COVID-19 in its mink farms.

People arriving in the UK from the country as of 4am must self-isolate for 14 days.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement: "I understand that this will be concerning for both people currently in Denmark and the wider UK public, which is why we have moved quickly to protect our country and prevent the spread of the virus to the UK."

"While new lockdown rules mean leaving home in order to travel for holidays is no longer permitted, the government's travel corridor policy remains a critical part of the government's COVID-19 response as it mitigates the risk of importing infections from abroad."

Denmark was only added to the quarantine-free list on 25 October.

It comes just hours after Germany and Sweden were removed from the list, with people travelling to the UK from those destinations to quarantine for two weeks if they arrive after 4am on Saturday.

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Germany's seven-day rate of coronavirus cases per 100,000 people reached 140 after nearly 20,000 cases were reported on Wednesday.